The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-06-29
LOST OVERHEARD.
The Remarkable Escape of En-
gineer Forester.
He Survives Several Hours In the English
Channel Before He Is Picked Up
Reaches Home Ahead of the
Steamer from Which He Fell.


markable, is all. fact 1t was related
10 me by Mr.. Forester himself, while l
was on board the ship with him. and
was vouched for in all particulars by
Captain Roberts. All names given are
true names of those interested. and l
have not attempted to embellish the
narrative, but give it in Mr.. Forester's
own words:
Eyes, if it will interest you, have
no objection to telling you of my lit lie
adventure in the English channel last
summer, although / shudder at times
when l think of my narrow escape.
As you are aware, / have been chief
engineer of the steamship Kingdom
for several years, and 1 really think
that good luck will follow me as long
as remain by her. Well, we left the
port of Dunkirk on the coast OF
France on the afternoon of August q,
1886, bound for Liverpool, England,
the home of my wife and children.
You can imagine my anxiety to reach
those so dear to me much better than l
can describe it. No one but those who
follow the sea can realize fully the feel
ings of him who is homeward bound,
after long absence. We had been on
our way about thirty-six hours. 1t
was my watch in the engine-room.. I
stood beside the great engines and
watched their pulsation, and knew
that every stroke made the great screw
revolve and sent us nearer, nearer to
our loved ones. All was going well in
the engine-room, and concluded l
would take breath of fresh air.
Mounting the ladders, climbed to the
engine-room door on the main deck.
1t was now nine o clock at night. The
stars shone out bright and beautiful
magnificent summer night at sea.
The captain and his wife (who had
Joined him at Dunklrk) were on the
ships bridge, the Captain keeping a
sharp lookout for Dungeness light on
the English coast. The ships log reg
istered ten and one-half knots per
hour, and that light should have been
in sight Captain Roberts, seeing me,
remarked that the ship was not doing
as well as he expected, as the light
should now be in sight I was salts
fed that the light would soon show
up, and made myself comfortable on
the port rail amidships to lunch on the
coffee and crackers that the steward
served me with at this hour. I drank
the coffee and sat the cup on the rail
and at that moment / saw fash al
most dead ahead.
ITO make sure it was Dungeness
light, l stood up on the rail, and
placing my hand over my head
and taking hold of the steering rod
leaned over the side as far as l could.
AS | did so the movement of the rcd
brought my hand in contact with the
block IN the shieve': Fearing my hand
would get caught reached up the
other, intending to change hands.
let go too soon and missed my hold,
and the next moment l found myself
plunging head foremost into the Eng
lish channel, fifteen miles from land.
Instantly knew I must plunge
deep down under the water and swim
from the ship to save myself from be-
ing drawn into the wheel by suction.
lcame to the surface just astern OF
the ship, and facing her. The spray
from the propeller was driven against
my face with such force it seemed as
If it cut the flesh. I turned my back
for moment and then the problem OF
life and eternity was instantly before
ME. threw myself on my back and
foated.
Il saw the great cloud of black
smoke roll out from the ships funnel
and fall over the water. l knew nc
one had seen me fall over the ships
side. realized at once that all those
so near, either one of whom would
have rescued me at the peril of his
own life, were unconsciously leaving
ME. was not missed on the ship till
midnight, two hours after had fallen
overheard. The ship was searched
engine, boiler and fire rooms-in the
expectation of finding me disabled.
At last my cup and plate were found
on the ships rail. To those on board
the problem was solved-it was unani.
mously voted that had dropped asleep
and fallen overheard while sitting on
the rail. All thought it too late to put